Judicial system

There are currently several cases before the European Court of Human Rights against the French law banning sexual purchases. This is due to the legislation the country introduced in 2016 which included a ban on the purchase of sexual services. Sweden has requested and been granted the right to take part in the cases as a third party.

Today, 15 July 2021, the Act containing supplementary provisions on cooperation in criminal matters between the European Union and the United Kingdom enters into force.

Speech given at the Prize Ceremony Check against delivery

Special session of the General Assembly, United Nations, New York, 2–4 June 2021 Check against delivery

The Government decided today to support the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in a case before the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning new rules to make the EU budget conditional on respect for the rule of law.

The Government has today presented a bill to the Riksdag containing certain supplementary provisions on law enforcement and police cooperation to the agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom.

To facilitate efforts by Swedish law enforcement authorities to investigate crimes committed by ISIL terrorists, Sweden today entered into a cooperation agreement with UNITAD.

The Government today decided on continued border control at the internal border for six months. The decision is based on the Government’s assessment that there is still a serious threat to public policy and internal security in Sweden.

Speech by H.E. Mikael Damberg, Minister for Home Affairs, Sweden, in the Closing Session of the 2021 OSCE Counter-Terrorism Conference. The conference was held virtually, 21 April 2021.

The Government decided today [15 April] to refer a proposal to the Council on Legislation containing certain supplementary provisions on law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters to the agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom.

Digital conference in Kyoto, Japan, 7 March 2021. Check against delivery.

According to the Swedish Police Authority’s latest annual statistics, the Authority has a total of 33 726 employees as of 31 December 2020. This is a record-breaking increase of 5 463 new police employees since the start of the major investment in the Police in 2016.

The Government today decided that foreign nationals will have to present a negative test result for ongoing COVID-19 infection upon entry into Sweden, regardless of where they are arriving from. The aim is to reduce the risk of spreading the new variants of the COVID-19 virus that have been detected in a number of countries.

Sweden has been entrusted with holding the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) from 1 March 2022 until 28 February 2023. The decision was taken at the IHRA’s digital plenary meeting in Leipzig on 3 December 2020.

Preventing and combating men’s violence against women and honour-related violence and oppression is a highly prioritised issue for the Government. By adopting decision on the appropriation directions for 2021, the Government has allocated SEK 240 million to efforts combating violence and given several government agencies assignments in this area. Several assignments will focus on stopping honour-related violence and oppression. An additional SEK 130 million has also been allocated to the county administrative boards and municipalities to support efforts to combat violence. Several anti-violence initiatives are expected in 2021, with additional funds earmarked for this purpose.

It has been a year since the Government presented its 34-point programme of measures to combat gang crime. The programme represents the largest package of measures to combat gang crime ever in Sweden. The Government is working hard to ensure that measure after measure enters into force and produces results.

The Government has decided to reintroduce  border control at Sweden’s internal borders. Border control will be imposed between 12 November 2020 until 11 May 2021. Border controls will contribute to national security and help detect threats from potential perpetrators and prevent terrorist attacks.

Enhancing safety and security in society is one of the Government’s most important priorities. In the Budget Bill for 2021, the Government continues to strengthen the judicial chain through important investments in the Swedish Police Authority and the Swedish Prison and Probation Service.

“By learning about our history we can strengthen and defend our open and democratic Swedish society today and in the future”, says Minister for Education Anna Ekström.

The Living History Forum will receive SEK 10 million to start preparations connected to the establishment of a Swedish museum to preserve and perpetuate the memory of the Holocaust. One starting point is documenting the stories of Swedish Holocaust survivors.